BasketballHuskies hold off ECU

GREENVILLE — Despite Isaac Fleming’s second triple-double, 26 points from Shawn Williams and 20 points from B.J. Tyson, Connecticut took an 84-80 American Athletic Conference win over East Carolina in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Sunday.

Fleming. who had the first triple double in school history in an 88-85 home win over Memphis on Feb. 3, finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the second meeting with the Huskies.

Fleming is the first player in AAC history to record multiple triple-doubles.

The Pirates led 57-48 after a layup by Tyson with 14:11 to go but UConn responded with an 8-0 run.

The visitors went ahead to stay at 67-65 on a basket by Terry Larrier with 7:25 remaining.

ECU (10-15, 4-10 AAC) trailed 82-74 when Williams made three free throws with 29 seconds left. Williams dropped a 3-pointer on Tyson’s assist to cut the margin to 82-80 with 19 seconds to go but that was as close as the Pirates would get down the stretch.

Jalen Adams, who led UConn (13-14, 6-8) with 26 points, made two free throws with 14 seconds left for the final margin. Adams had six assists.

“We would’ve loved to come out on the winning side,” said interim ECU coach Michael Perry. “We certainly did enough on the offensive end. We didn’t do enough on the defensive end. Our guys fought and competed hard.

“I’m really proud of the effort they gave out there on the floor. They really contributed to a heck of an evening of college basketball.”

The Huskies hit 13 of 26 from beyond the arc (50 percent), forcing ECU to change from zone to man-to-man defense in the first half. UConn was 32 of 55 overall from the field (58.2 percent).

The Pirates made 28 of 58 from the field (48.3 percent), including 13 of 25 from long distance (52 percent). Williams dropped seven of 13 from long range.

The Huskies got 20 points from Larrier, 16 from Christian Vital and 11 from Tyler Polley. Antwoine Anderson had nine points and seven assists as UConn followed up on a 70-65 home win over the Pirates on Jan. 6.